Nanmee Books expands online business

Bangkok publishing firm Nanmee Books plans to provide digital book downloads in the near future and is expanding its business based on online transactions.

Deputy managing director Kim Chongsatitwattana said that the company was studying the provision of digital book downloads because it was a major trend in the market.

The firm entered the world of e-commerce last year when it began allowing customers to make purchases via its online bookstore at www.nanmeebooks.com. The company has since been able to generate about 10 per cent of its total revenue from online transactions.

"I think that online business transactions offer a new opportunity for companies to expand their business bases both locally and internationally," Kim said. "We believe that online transactions will generate 15 per cent of our total revenue in the near future."

Nanmee Books has now expanded its online business by joining Sanook Shopping to open an online bookstore at www.shopping.co.th/nanmeebooks.com.

Veerawat Hongsitthiwong, vice president, search and marketing, for Sanook Shopping, which operates Shopping.co.th, said the new online bookstore was an alternative channel to address the needs of new-generation readers. It also aims to create new opportunities for Sanook's business partners.

"This year, demand for books is continuing to grow, especially in health, encouragement, psychology and self-improvement. We have also found that more readers are shifting from traditional bookstores to online bookshops, generating 30-per-cent growth per year," Kim said.